C5 Lee Longba

"Lee Yao has returned!"

As soon as Lee Yao entered the Lee family estate, the news quickly reached Lee Longba and Lee Longtian.

A venomous look flashed in Lee Longtian's eyes as he inquired, "Is Lee Yifan here?"

"No!"

In the midst of their conversation, Lee Yao approached.

Upon seeing Lee Yao, Lee Longtian strode forward and slapped him across the face. "You imbecile, how could you not bring Lee Yifan? Do you want your sick sister to die?"

Still fuming, Lee Longtian delivered a kick that sent Lee Yao tumbling to the ground.

Lee Yao was filled with frustration, nearly grinding his teeth to dust, yet he managed to contain his rage and spoke submissively, "Yifan... Lee Yifan refused to come to the Lee family. However, he mentioned that if anyone is looking for him, they can find him on the west bank of the river."

Lee Longtian responded icily, "Unwilling? I think he's too scared to come."

Lee Yao, avoiding a direct response, hastily asked, "I've done as you commanded. Can you now release my sister?"

"Once we've dealt with Lee Yifan, your sick sister will be returned to you," Lee Longtian retorted dismissively before turning and dashing towards the house.

Upon reaching the courtyard, Lee Longtian found his elder brother, Lee Longba, in the midst of his martial arts practice.

Wielding a five-hundred-kilogram iron spear with ease, Lee Longba made it whistle through the air with formidable force.

After half an hour, Lee Longba concluded his session and casually tossed the spear aside, where it lodged itself quivering in a massive stone.

"Has Lee Yifan arrived?" Lee Longba asked in a deep, powerful voice, his eyes gleaming with intensity, reminiscent of a fierce tiger.

Lee Longtian reported, "He's too cowardly to show up. He even said that if you want to see him, you should go to the city's riverside. Big brother, I suspect he's aware he can't beat you and plans to flee through the river. He ambushed me today, inflicted serious injuries, and robbed me of my silver.

Big brother, you must seek vengeance for me!"

"Rest assured, I will secure justice for you. And you, focus on your training. Isn't it embarrassing to be caught off guard by a nobody? I'm embarrassed on your behalf," Lee Longba stated gravely.

"Yes!"

"Let's head to the riverside."

Lee Longtian's face broke into a radiant smile. His older brother was about to seek revenge on his behalf. Lee Yifan, your days are numbered.

...

On the outskirts of the city by the riverside, Lee Yifan, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, abruptly opened them, sensing someone approaching. One individual, in particular, exuded an exceptionally commanding presence.

As expected, it wasn't long before a group of figures materialized before him.

Leading the pack were the brothers Lee Longba and Lee Longtian.

Lee Longba resembled a mighty tiger surveying his territory, his aura undeniably powerful.

Aside from the siblings, Lee Yifan spotted Lee Yao. New wounds marred his body, a clear sign of recent mistreatment by the Lee family.

Also present was Lee Yao's sister, Lee You'er.

Two individuals escorted a pale-faced Lee You'er. She had always been frail and sickly. To care for her, Lee Yao had tirelessly earned merits and rewards for the family.

Yifan had often assisted Lee Yao in the past, which is why Lee Yao had loyally served as his right-hand man.

With Yifan now cast aside by the family, Lee Yao's standing had sharply declined.

Yet, for the Lee family to treat someone who had bled for them with such coldness was a sign of a clan not built to last.

Upon seeing Lee Yifan, Lee Longtian's eyes blazed with resentment as he bellowed, "Lee Yifan!"

"Why shout so loudly? It's not like your grandfather is hard of hearing."

Lee Yifan gazed at Lee Longtian with scorn. "Lee Longtian, I half-expected you to run home crying to daddy. But instead, you've turned to your brother..."

Feeling the sting of embarrassment, Lee Longtian hastily cut him off, "Hmph, if it weren't for your sneak attack last time, I'd have made you beg for mercy."

"Really? How about we settle this right now?" Lee Yifan taunted, his smile tinged with mockery.

Lee Longtian was tempted to accept the challenge, but the words died on his lips.

The memory of being electrocuted by Lee Yifan was still fresh in his mind; he had no desire to relive that experience.

"Lee Yifan, you've really stepped up, bullying my brother like that. How do you propose we settle this?" Lee Longba demanded, stepping forward to defend his brother after seeing Lee Longtian bested.

Lee Yifan cocked his head, eyeing him. "How would you like to settle it?"

"Kneel and apologize to my brother. Compensate with two hundred thousand silver notes. Considering Jiang Yurou is your wife, I might just let you off the hook," Lee Longba declared from his high horse.

"And if I refuse?"

With a flourish of his steel spear, Lee Longba retorted, "Then you'll get a taste of the tiger's might."

"Yifan, get out of here! Lee Longba has unlocked his sixth mystical gate; you're no match for him," Lee Yao suddenly yelled out to Lee Yifan.

"You traitor! Informing the enemy? I'll kill you!" Lee Longtian lashed out, kicking Lee Yao in the gut, sending him crumpling to the ground.

"Yifan, don't mind us. Just go," Lee You'er called out to Lee Yifan, her face ashen.

"Tsk tsk, such a moving display. Lee Yifan, are you planning to run?" Lee Longba taunted, eyeing Lee Yifan as if he were prey.

Witnessing Lee Yao and Lee You'er in distress, Lee Yifan's eyes blazed with fury.

He turned his intense gaze to Lee Longba and declared, "Release them, or I'll take your brother's life! Don't doubt me. You can't stop me."

"Sure, you can try. After all, trading three lives for one—you'd still be coming out ahead," he said, his eyes fixed on Lee Longtian.

In that moment, Lee Longtian felt a chill run down his spine, as if he were a frog under the gaze of a viper, utterly trapped.

The realization hit him—if Lee Yifan wanted him dead, he stood no chance.

Lee Longtian's face drained of color. He quickly moved to Lee Longba's side, seeking the only semblance of safety he could find.

Although Lee Longba was confident in his ability to kill Lee Yifan, he knew that if Yifan was determined to take down Lee Longtian, even at the cost of his own life, there was no guarantee he could keep Longtian safe.

He understood Yifan well enough to know that he meant what he said.

Ultimately, Lee Longba relented, "Release them."

Lee Longba wasn't worried about Yifan trying to escape. With Lee You'er and Lee Yao as liabilities, fleeing wasn't an option for him.

Lee Yao and Lee You'er approached Yifan, remorse written all over Lee Yao's face. "Yifan, we're the reason you're in this mess."

"Their quarrel is with me. Even if you weren't here, they'd find another way to come after me. So really, I'm the one who's put you both in danger."

"Now, I'm going to get justice for us."

With those words, a tangible aura of battle readiness and lethal intent emanated from Yifan, targeting Lee Longba directly. "Lee Longba, prepare to meet your end!"